It was certainly better than sleeping out in the elements.
Lying on the bed in the hotel suite, Ludwig stared up at the exquisite ceiling, musing to himself. Then, he rolled over and looked toward Merlin. She was currently sitting on a sofa some distance from the bed, slowly sipping a glass of wine.
"I suppose I should say thank you," he said.
"Don't mention it; it wasn't my money anyway," Merlin replied with a look of pure innocence. "I just used a little trick to embezzle funds from the magus family that manages this land."
"...Alright." Ludwig realized he had given her far too much credit. "But won't that expose us?"
"Not during the Holy Grail War, at least," Merlin said, swirling her glass leisurely. "After all, the war itself is more than enough of a headache for that magus."
"You mean the land manager is also a participant in the Holy Grail War?" Ludwig asked.
"Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern—they are the three founding magus families that established the Holy Grail War system here in Fuyuki," Merlin explained. "You've already met the Einzberns; that lady knocked out by the flying stone is one of their homunculi."
"The Holy Grail War system... so this isn't the first time?"
"Sharp as ever. You're right," Merlin nodded with a smile. "By the count, this is already the fourth time. It's held once every sixty years."
"That's quite a long interval," Ludwig said, slightly taken aback.
"The Greater Grail needs to collect mana from the land's spiritual pulses. It takes about sixty years to gather enough to sustain the war," Merlin nodded.
"I see." Ludwig rolled back onto his back, cushioning his head with his arms as he lay on the bed.
The environment was worlds away from the era he lived in. Whether it was the architecture or the daily amenities, everything felt like archaeology to him, even though everything was brand new without a hint of wear. That sense of displacement and being on foreign turf caused by the difference in eras made it difficult for Ludwig's heart to truly settle.
Of course, another reason was that Merlin was also in the room. The suite occupied half of the hotel floor, featuring not only a drawing room but several empty bedrooms as well. It was actually significantly larger than Ludwig's original home.
Shing—
Merlin picked up the longsword he had casually tossed onto the table and began to toy with it. When he had carried that sword into the hotel and up the elevator earlier, not a single person had questioned him, most likely because Merlin had used a magical suggestion to make the hotel staff ignore the sword or perceive it as an umbrella.
"Is this the Noble Phantasm you seized?" she asked.
"I suppose so. Logically, Gilgamesh should have been able to reclaim it, but he didn't," Ludwig replied. "Did Berserker do something?"
"It's likely Berserker's innate ability to seize the weapons and Noble Phantasms of others," Merlin said. "By the way, you got a pretty good haul."
"Oh?"
"This sword is called Durandal—or rather, the prototype of Durandal," Merlin revealed its True Name.
Ludwig raised his eyebrows. "The sword used by Roland, one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins?"
"Exactly. This sword was passed down from the Trojan hero Hector, though Hector used it as a spearhead for throwing," Merlin added.
"I've actually heard of that..." Ludwig nodded.
Some legends linked the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne with Ancient Greek mythology. It now appeared that the inheritance between them was not a fabrication.
"Do you plan on using this sword later?" Merlin asked.
"It's a trophy for now, so I might as well try it out. But the next time I run into Gilgamesh, it'll probably be forcibly reclaimed, won't it?" he said.
"It's not that difficult. Before Gilgamesh realizes it, I can pull a few strings to make it so he can't take it back," Merlin suggested.
"You think Gilgamesh doesn't want me dead enough already?" Ludwig raised an eyebrow.
"Hardly. The mere fact that you heavily wounded the Heroic King while he was actually being somewhat serious is reason enough for him to seek revenge," Merlin said. "That man is just petty like that."
"Being that careless on the battlefield is his own fault." Ludwig uncrossed his arms and sprawled out, his body sinking into the soft mattress as his mind finally began to relax.
Merlin's voice seemed to drift further away. "Have you decided to join the Holy Grail War?"
"I'm not sure what the Grail can do, but I'll see if it can be of any use," Ludwig said. "If it can send me back to my original era, that would be ideal."
"Do you prefer a world after the planet's end over this one?" Merlin asked, puzzled.
"It's not a matter of preference. It's simply where I'm from. If I have to die, I'd rather it be there," he replied. "Besides... the planet doesn't exactly welcome me. It even sent a monitor."
"Hehe~" Merlin chuckled in understanding. "So, do you plan on stealing King Arthur's contract?"
"King Arthur?"
"That would be Saber," Merlin said. "Consider this a special service for today. I know the True Names of every Servant in this Holy Grail War."
"Then how about you become my Servant?" Ludwig proposed suddenly.
Merlin laughed, one eye closed. "No thanks. I just want to find a front-row seat to watch your journey and enjoy your story. Beyond that, it's best not to expect too much from me."
"What a shame..." Ludwig closed his eyes.
He had hoped to drag Merlin into the mess with him, but he hadn't expected her to be so shrewd—or perhaps she simply had no interest in the Grail. Seeing his reaction, Merlin let out another merry laugh.
"Even someone like you needs to rest after fighting for so long. Stop thinking about trivial things, get some good sleep, and prepare for the Holy Grail War," Merlin said.
"I know that without you telling me." Ludwig's voice grew faint; he really was exhausted.
"Ah, right. There's one more thing I forgot to mention. The name 'Brunestud' isn't something to be used lightly," Merlin said in a distant, ethereal voice. "Once used, it leaves a mark that can never be erased. I hope you're prepared for that."
Her words were somewhat cryptic, sounding less like a warning and more like a reminder of something. Ludwig didn't really care much about it.
"Well then, goodnight..."
Merlin's final words were like flicking a switch, and Ludwig instantly plummeted into a soft, warm slumber.
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